Malaysia’s pineapple industry reaches billion-ringgit milestone
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Malaysia has more than 8,000 pineapple growers and over 300 companies involved in the sector.
PHOTO ILLUSTRATION: PEXELS
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JOHOR BAHRU - Malaysia’s pineapple industry has become a billion-ringgit sector, with farmers earning up to RM9,000 (S$2,710) a month, marking a significant milestone in the country’s agri-food success story.
Agriculture and Food Security Minister Mohamad Sabu said on June 27 that the nation recorded RM1.3 billion in pineapple output value in 2024, up 34 per cent from the previous year.
The country’s pineapple production volume rose 17 per cent to 520,000 metric tonnes, cultivated across 13,000 ha of productive farmland, he added.
“This shows that pineapples are not just a fruit we enjoy, but a true engine of rural economic development,” Datuk Seri Mohamad said in his speech at the inaugural Malaysian Pineapple Day celebration held at a shopping mall on June 27.
He added that Malaysia now has more than 8,000 pineapple growers and over 300 companies involved in the sector, ranging from small- to large-scale operations.
Self-sufficiency level for pineapples has reached 103 per cent, allowing Malaysia to meet its domestic demand and expand its export potential, he said.
He highlighted the case of a Johor farmer who doubled his income from RM180,000 to RM350,000 annually by using drone technology in his operations.
In Pahang, the Hijrah Asnaf Pineapple Farming programme has helped 18 participants, mainly from underprivileged groups, earn monthly incomes of up to RM5,000 after just a few months of cultivation.
“The Federal Government has allocated RM75 million for pineapple development in Sarawak under the 12th Malaysia Plan (RMK-12). Farmers in Ulu Moyan there are already producing 50 tonnes of pineapples monthly and have set up their own processing facilities,” Mr Mohamad added.
He also commended Sarawak’s innovation in using pineapple waste as livestock feed and the launch of the new Sarawak Gold (SG1) variety as an alternative to the MD2 premium hybrid.
“This shows a strong commitment from the Sarawak government to turn pineapple into a strategic commodity while supporting green economy principles,” he said.
In Kedah, artificial intelligence and satellite imaging are being used to monitor crops, boosting yield by 30 per cent while reducing operational costs by 40 per cent.
He said these advances in technologies are helping Malaysia to meet growing demand from foreign markets such as China and Singapore.
“Under the upcoming 13th Malaysia Plan, the ministry aims to expand cultivated land to 30,000 hectares, increase production to 1 million metric tonnes, and double pineapple exports from 2,300 to 4,000 containers annually,” he added.
Mr Mohamad also said that Johor remains the top pineapple-producing state in the country, contributing 68 per cent of total cultivated land, thanks to strong collaboration with the state government.
He urged more states, private firms, and individuals to participate in the pineapple sector, highlighting that the crop is now both a national asset and a symbol of rural transformation. THE STAR/ ASIAN NEWS NETWORK
